Strain clamp



Jane 17, 1930.

N. A. WAHLBERGv 1,764,372

STRAIN t Filed July so', 1927 lATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT olf-'FICE NILS A. WAHLBERG, 0F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMIANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA STRAIN CLAMP Application led July 30,

My invention relates to clamps, and particularly to strain, dead-end or jumper clamps tor supporting high-voltage transmission-line conductors.

One object of my invention is to provide a clamp, of the above indicated character, that shall facilitate mounting of the conductor relatively thereto and thatshall assist in holding the conductor temporarily while being clamped in position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a transmission-line clamp that shall be provided with mounting and lifting means at convenient positions adjacent to the intersection of angularly related clamping'l or supporting armsthereot. 1

Another object of my invent-ion is to provide a conductor clamp that shall be compact in construction and embody a substantially minimum amount of material.

Another object of my invention is to provide a clamp that shall be simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and eiiective in its operation.

Nith such objects in view, as well as other advantages which maybe incident to the utilization oi' the improvement, the invention consists in-the parts and combination thereof hereafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportion and arrangement wit-hout departing from the nature and scope of the invention. f

Accordingly, in practicing my invention, I provide a clamp embodying an arm for substantially parallel relation to a span section of the conductor, an arm for angular relation thereto, positioning lips adjacent to the ends and intermediate portion of the clamp, clamping means between the ends and intermediate lips, and lifting and mounting means, adjacent to the intersection ot the arms, insuch combination and arrangement as to attain the objects of my invention, and Jfurther, to provide a clamp that is, in general, an improvement over similar devices heretofore employed. I v

Figure 1, of the accompanying drawing, is a view, in side elevation, of aclamp con- 1927. Serial N0. 209,438.

structed in accordance Vwith my invention, with parts omitted and portions of a `conductor and a mounting link for cooperation therewith broken away for clearness, and

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1. p

The device comprises, in general, apreterably single integral metal casting 2 embodying angularly related arms 3 and 4, lifting means 5, conductorreceiving seat portions 7 and 8, in the arms 3 and 4, respectively, positioning lips 10, 11 and V12, a mounting link 14 and clamping members 15 and 16 associated with the arms 3 and 4, respectively. Y Y

The arm 2 is disposed parallel to a span section 17 of a transmission-line conductor, and the arm 4 is in parallel relation to a portion of a dead-end or jumper section 18 of the conductor, the seat portions 7 and 8 being of trough-like character disposed on theirsides, in the arms 3 and 4, for the ready reception of the conductor, by relatively moving the casting: 2 and the conductor laterally toward each other. p

f The lips 10, 11 and 12' are also preferably ot trough-like character and displaced about their longitudinal axes Vat right angles relative to the axes of the seat'portions 7 and 8 to temporarily hold the conductor, while .the clamping members 15 and 16l are being placed in position.

The lip` 11 is preferably curved in accordance with a seat portion 19 joining the arms 3 and 4 and, similarly to the lip 10, projects upwardly at the side ot the conductor'opposite to that, at which `the main body of the casting 2 is disposed. Thelip 12 projects downwardly or in reverse direction to the lips 10 and 11.

A plurality of pairs of openings 21, 1n the arms 3, are provided for the reception of bolts 22 which, with nuts 23, hold the clamping members 15 in position. Similaropenings 24 are provided 'inthe arm 4 for co operation with bolts 25 and nuts 26 for holding the clamping members 16 against the jumper conductor section 18 on the arm 4.

The members 15 may be integrally connected to each other and adapted for co-y operation 'with a common clamping shoe over the conductor, as may also be the clamping members 16, in accordance with usual and well known practicel The link 14, only a portion of which is shown, is connected, by a bolt 28 and a nut 29, to an apertured boss 30 on the cast-ing 2 adjacent to the lifting means 5 which is preferably in the form of a loop or eyelet.

.In mounting theconductor, the jumper conductor section 18 is' preferably first placed under the lip portion 12 and bent around the seat portion 19 behind the lip 11, the lips 10, 11 and 12 assisting in holdingthe conductor in position, while the clamp members 15 and 16 are being mounted.

After the parts have been thus assembled, the device may bev easily elevated to its operative position, on a tower or similar main supporting structure, by means of a hook disposed in the lifting loop 5 and connected to a block-and-tackle device on the tower.

The lips 10, 11 and 12,beingspaced relatively far apart on the side of the conductor opposite the main body of the clamp, hold the conductor from lateral displacement therefrom, during the mounting of the clamp substantially as well as a continuous Wall but, in contradistinction to such a wall, facilitate the positioning of the conductor in the clamp and render the construction of the permanent clamping'parts made eiective and their assembly easier. j Having a lip at each end of the clamp and clamping means between each end lip and the intermediate lip 11 are also, features which, in combination with the side-groove portions 7 and 8, the lifting means 5 and other parts, render the structure of manufacturing, economical, assembling and operating advantages in an important field.

The relative inaccessibility of the high tower or poles on which such clamps are mounted, the adverse weather conditions, such as rain, wind, snow and sleet, under which they must operate and the exacting requirements of the service which they are eX- pected to give, render improvements of the character outlined highly desirable.

I claim as .my invention: 1. A clamp comprising a channeled arm for substantially parallel relation to a span section of a transmission-line conductor, a channeled arm constituting a continuation of said arm butv disposed in angular relation thereto, means for positioning the conductor mcluding a lip adjacent to the outer end of each of said arms, means disposed between each of saidlips and the intersection of the arms for clamping the conductor and means at one side 'only of one of said channel portions for mounting the clamp. I

2. A clamp comprising an arm for substantially parallel relation to a span section of a transmission-line conductor, an arm for angular relation thereto, means for positioning the conductor including a lip adjacent to the outer end of each of said arms anda lip adjacent to the intersection of the arms, and means disposed between each of said end lips and the 'intermediate lip for clamping the conductor. j

3. A clamp comprising an arm for substantially parallel relation to a span section of a transmission-line conductor, an arm for angular relation thereto, and means for positioning the conductor including similarlyprojecting lips adjacent to the outer end of said span arm and to the intersection of the arms, respectively, and an oppositely-projectf.,

ing lip adjacent to the outer end of said angular arm.

4. A clamp comprising an arm for substantially parallel relation to a span section of a transmission-line conductor, an arm for angular relation thereto, conductor-positioning means on each of said arms and a clamp-lifting loop portion and means for receiving a relatively movable clamp-mounting element adjacent to the intersection of the arms.

5. A clamp comprising an arm for substantially parallel relation to a span section of a transmission-line conductor, an arm for angular relation thereto, each of said arms having a trough-like conductor-receiving seat portion disposed on its side, and trough-like conductor-positioning portions adjacent to the outer ends, and to the intersection, of the arms disposed at angles about the longitudinal axes thereof relativeto the axes of said seat portions.

6. A clamp comprising an arm for substantially parallel relation to a span section of a transmission-line conductor, an arm for angular relation thereto, a curved portion joining said arms, each of said arms having a trough-like conductor-receiving seat portion disposed on its side, a relatively short conductor-positioning lip adjacent to the outer end of each of said arms projecting oppositely to the other lip, a lip adjacent, and substantially conforming to said curved portionl and means for clamping the conductor at a plurality of positions between each of said end lips and said intermediate lip.

7. A clamp comprising an arm for substantially parallel relation to a span section of a transmission-line conductor, an arm alignlarly related thereto, a gradually curved portion between saidarms, a single continuous conductor-receiving channel portion extending along one of said arms, along said curved portion and along the other arm, means for holding the conductor in position and means at one side only of said channel portion for mounting the clamp.

8. A transmission-line clamp comprising a body member including a channel portion for receiving a conductor therealong, said body having an outwardly-dared channel-like lip adjacent to each end angularly disposed about its axis relative to the other end lip, means for holding the conductor in position and means at one side only of said channel portion for mounting the clamp.

9. A transmission-line clamp comprising a body member for receiving a conductor therealong, said body having an outwardly-ared channel-like lip adjacent to each end angularly disposed about its aXis relative to the other end lip and a lip intermediate said end lips, and means for holding the conductor in position.

10. A transmission-line clamp comprising a body having angularly related portions for receiving a conductor therealong, said body having an outwardly-flared channel-like lip adjacent to each end angularly disposed about its axis relative to the other' end lip and a lip adj acent to the intersection of said angularly-related body portions, and means for holding the conductor in position.

11. A transmission-line clamp comprising a body having angularly related portions joined by a curved portion and a single continuous conductor-receiving channel portion extending along all of said portions, said body having an outwardly-flared channel-like lip adjacent to each end angularly disposed about its axis relative to the other end lip and a lip adjacent to said curved portion, and means for holding the conductor in position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th day of July, 1927.

NILS A. VAHLBERG. 

